Unmasking The Maverick

“I told him you make a mean macaroni.”

And? Her heart skipped a beat waiting for...what? Didn’t matter because he didn’t come through with more. “At least you didn’t say I was mean.”

“Actually, I said you seem nice.”

“I think I am. But Luke was probably just making polite conversation. Not necessarily matchmaking.”

“There’s more. He underlined the fact that you’re single and I’m single.”

“And?” she prompted.

“And I asked him why you’re still single.”

“What did he say?”

“That I should ask you. So, why are you still single?”

“Because I’m not married,” she said.

“Smart-ass. So why aren’t you married?”

If that question had come up at dinner last night she would have been angry and defensive. With so many people watching her reaction, it would have felt too much like the public way she’d found out the man she’d expected a proposal from had cheated on her and gotten a girl pregnant. But now they were alone, and Brendan wasn’t even looking at her, so it felt like the solitude of the confessional.

“So many reasons for being single,” she started. “I’m too old—pushing thirty, a spinster by Old West standards. Not thin enough. Men seem to like stick women who have to run around in the shower to get wet. On top of that there are no men here in Rust Creek Falls—”

“Don’t look now but—” Without turning he lifted a greasy hand. “Man. Says so right on my driver’s license.”

“Okay. That last one deserves some context. I grew up in Rust Creek Falls. Spent my whole life here and most of the guys have, too. They’re friends of Ronan and Keegan and, by extension, like my brothers. So...ew. It’s too weird. That makes meeting men a challenge.”

“Okay. I respect your honesty.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Luke was just doing his part, then.”

“Exactly.” She beamed at him. “Look at you paying attention and participating in the conversation.”

“I’ve been told I’m too quiet. So I’ve been making an effort since I got out.”

By “out” she assumed he meant leaving the military. Since he was doing his best to take part, she’d give him an opportunity to share. Maybe the fact that he was elbow-deep in a tractor engine would help.

“I noticed your license plate holder. So you were a marine?”

“Yup. From Prosperity, Texas.” He picked up a tool from the workbench beside him. “I loved the Corps. It was a good career.”

She could hear respect, reverence and regret in his tone. And, frankly, he sounded a little lost. “Why did you leave, then?”

“My dad got sick. Cancer. I came home to be with him.”

“That must have been a difficult time. I bet you miss him.”

His movements stilled for a moment. “Yeah.”

Fiona knew about Luke and Eva’s plan to offer a stay at Sunshine Farm to someone going through a hard time in order to pay their happiness and good luck forward. They were always looking for someone in need of a fresh start. With these bits of information Brendan had revealed, she could see why they’d opened their arms to him. “So you’re trying to figure out what to be when you grow up?”

He didn’t answer but straightened from his troubleshooting position over the engine and climbed up on the tractor. The key was in the ignition and he turned it. Instantly the engine rumbled to life. He nodded. Anyone else would have pumped their arm or woo-hooed in triumph. A victory boot scoot wouldn’t be out of the question, either. But not this man. His reaction was quiet satisfaction.

He turned off the machine and climbed down. “Mission accomplished.”

“What did you do?”

“There were some wires way down in the belly, hard to see, right next to the housing for—”

She held up a hand to stop him. “My head will explode if you say one more word.”

“Okay.” He grinned as he grabbed a rag and wiped the worst of the grease off his hands.

The look was so darn cute it liquefied her brain cells. That’s when she realized talking to him without eye contact was much easier. Pull it together, Fiona, she told herself. “If my dad wants to know what you did I’ll just have him call you.”

“Okay.”

“Seriously, though, thank you so much. Come on up to the house and I’ll give you a check for your work. What do I owe you?”

Without missing a beat he said, “Dinner.”

That surprised her. This was business and usually that involved taking payment for one’s work. So maybe she’d misunderstood. “I’d be happy to buy you dinner, but—”

He shook his head. “A gentleman would never let a lady pay. I want to buy you dinner.”

She almost blurted out, “Shut the front door,” but managed to hold back. “Let me get this straight. You fixed my dad’s tractor and want to take me to dinner as payment?”

“Yes. Tomorrow night. On one condition.”

“What?” she asked, a little suspicious now.

He grabbed his flannel shirt, slung it over his broad shoulder by one finger and met her gaze. “Just you and me. No family.”

He wanted to be alone with her? Pinch me, she thought. This had to be a dream. A handsome man, single and sexy, was asking her out to dinner? This was shocking. She’d been so sure he was running away from her last night.

“Fiona?”

“Oh. Right.” She smiled. “I’d like that very much.”

“Then I’ll pick you up at six thirty. Is that okay?”

Heck, yes. But all she said was, “That would be fine.”

What in the world was she going to wear?

Chapter Three (#u97b03bc2-4543-55d0-be8e-c6f45e0dd20e)

What had he been thinking?